Can opening device



Jan. 27,1942. J. M. HOTHERSALL CAN OPENING DEVICE Filed D90. 12, 1940 ML INV BY A T To EN EY Patented Jan. 27, 1942 CAN OPENING DEVICE John M. Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 12, 1940, Serial N 0. 369,897

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a can opening device and has particular reference to a wall bracket type can opener for piercing and cutting a dispensing opening in a sheet metal container or can while the latter is held in one hand.

In many instances it is desirable to open cans rapidly and preferably with one hand. For example, in restaurants and other eating places cans of milk or other fluid contents may often be required to be opened in a hurry, and in taverns where beer cans are opened for use the operator may require a can to be opened while holding other things in the other hand.

The instant invention contemplates such an opening device which is simple and economical in construction and which has no moving parts to get out of order.

An object therefore of the invention is the provision of an opening devicefor piercing and cutting a dispensing opening in a sheet metal can wherein a can may be rapidly and easily opened while holding the can in one hand.

Another object is the provision of such an 'opening device which may be secured in a convenient place to a wall orother support and is simple in construction and economical to produce and which has no moving parts to get out of order.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, dsclo ses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a can opening device embodying the instant invention, the view showing the'upper end of a can in place at the beginning of the opening operation, the can being partially shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the opening device as viewed from the under side;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 in Fig. 2 and showing a can in the position occupied at the termination of the opening operation;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of an opened can showing the dispensing opening produced by the opening device.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawing illustrates a wall bracket type opening device for piercing an end member A of a sheet metal can B near the center of the can end member and for cutting the latter along diverging lines of severance while turning the cut away portion inwardly and toward the outer periphery of the can to produce a triangular shaped dispensing opening C.

Such an opening device preferably includes a wall bracket II' which comprises an outwardly and downwardly inclined top plate I2 having at its high end a vertically depending fastening plate l3 which may be secured by bolts H to a wall or other support. Strengthening webs l5 extend from the fastening plate to the top plate along their outer edges to make the bracket rigid.

The front or lower end of the inclined top plate 12 is preferably round in shape. This rounded end of the top plate carries a cutter disc l8 which is secured in place by bolts l9 and which is just a little larger in diameter than the diameter of the cans to be opened. The outer or front edge of the disc is formed with a pair of depending spaced hooks 2| which extend inwardly at their bottom edges. These hooks are preferably backed up or supported by a pair of depending lugs 22 which are formed on the front rounded edge of the top plate.

Diametrically opposite a center line passing between the hooks 2|, the cutter disc i8 is formed with an integral, inclined and triangular shaped cutter 25 having a slightly downwardly curved sharp point 26. The cutter extends inwardly from the outer edge of the disc and is inclined downwardly toward its center. Adjacent the edge of the disc the cutter connection is made by a downwardly and outwardly inclined support wall 21 which joins with the cutter in a rounded corner 28.

The outer edge of the cutter disc I8 is formed with a pair of depending skirt sections or guide members 3| which extend along both sides of the disc between the cutter 25 and the hooks 2l'. These skirt members are shallow adjacent the hooks 2| and deepen as they approach the cutter and they extend down below the cutter" at this portion of the disc. This protects the user against injury by the cutter.

In applying a can to be opened to the device the top end A of the can is placed inside the depending skirt sections 3| and the can end seam (indicated by the letter D) which secures the can end member A to the can B, is engaged over the hooks 2|. This may be readily done while holding the can in one hand. By pressing the can forward, i. e., toward the bracket, the can end seam D opposite the hooks 2| rides up along the skirt section 3| as shown in Fig. 4

while the can pivots on the hooks. These skirt members guide the can and prevent the end seam from slippingoif the hooks.

Continued pressure on the can brings its end member A into contact with the point 28 of the cutter 25, as shown in Fig. l, and the cutter thereupon pierces and cuts through the can end and produces the dispensing opening C (Figs. 3 and 5). The dispensing opening is fully formed when the can end member adjacent its end. seam D comes into engagement with the heel of the cutter defined by the rear rounded comer 28. This completes the opening action.

To remove the opened can from the device it is merely necessary to slightly swing the can away from the cutter and let the end seam D of the can ride down along the skirt section 3| until released. To facilitate pivoting of the can on the hooks 2! during this releasing operation there is provided a stop lug 33 which is located above the can end seam and between the spaced hooks 2|. This lug is formed on the top plate i2 and extends downwardly and inwardly to a position where it is easily engaged by the end seam.

It should be here mentioned that the inclination of the top plate I2 01 the device, the arrangement of the hooks 2i, cutter 26 and stop lug 33 are such as to prevent too much tipping of the can during its opening so that its contents will not be spilled.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spiirt and. scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

a dispensing opening in the top of the can ad jacent its end seam when the can is pivoted on said hook element so that the opposite portion of the end seam rides up along the guide memher.

2. A can opening device, comprising in combination, a wall bracket, a ho'ok element depending from said bracket for engaging under a proiecting end seam of a can placed under the bracket, a guide member also depending from said bracket and disposed opposite said hook element for guiding the adjacent portion of-the end seam, and a cutter disposed in close proximity to said guide member for piercing and cutting a dispensing opening in the top of the can ad-- jacent its end seam when the can is pivoted on said hook element so that the, opposite portion of the end seam rides up along the guide mem-' ber, and a stop lug adjacent said hook element and engageable with the end seam to facilitate removal of the can from the opening device.

3. A can opening device, comprising in combination, a wall bracket, a pair of spaced hook elements depending from said bracket for engaging opening device.

under a projecting end seam of a can placed under said wall bracket, a pair of spaced and curved guide members also depending from said bracket and disposed opposite said hook element and encircling the can for locating it and for guiding its end seam, and a cutter disposed diametrically opposite said hook elements for piercing and for cutting a dispensing opening in the top of the can adjacent its end seam when the can is pivoted on said hook elements to force the opposite portion of the side seam up along the guide members and to press the can top against the cutter.

4. A can opening device, comprising in combination, a wall bracket having a downwardly and outwardly inclined plate, a removable disc secured to said plate, a pair of spaced hook elements formed on said disc and depending therefrom for engaging under a projecting end seam of a can to be opened, a pair or supporting lugs formed on said bracket plate and extending down adjacent said hook elements for backing-up and supporting them, a curved and depending skirt guide member formed along each side of the disc for surrounding a can to be opened and for engaging and guiding the portion of the end seam opposite the hook elements, a cutter formed on said disc diametrically opposite said hook elements and extending downwardly from and-inwardly of said disc for piercing the top of the can adjacent its center portion and for cutting a dispensing opening extending from the pierced portion outwardly toward the end seam when the can is pivoted on said hook elements to force the opposite portion of the side seam upwardly along the guide members and to press thecan top against the cutter, and a stop lug formed on said bracket plate and extending down between said hook elementsto engage the can end seam and to facilitate removal of the can from the JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 

